Derwent Duathlon - Make Your Choice!

Enter Online or By Post

About the Event

9.30am start.

The 6th Derwent Duathlon from Peaklife Sport is here. An overview of the race and the race-day instructions are below and need to be read and understood for the race to pass safely and efficiently so that we all have a good day and nothing will need to be sent out to you before the race. Thank you.

You can register and pay for your entry online by clicking here. Alternatively you can register via post by downloading the entry form here.

Over 15s only please and an entry limit of 150 will apply as racing space is limited. Too many of you and the cycle course will become dangerous.

Numbers will not be sent out but will be collected on the day from the registration desk at the Fairholmes Visitor Centre, Upper Derwent Valley, Bamford, Derbyshire, S33 0AX.

By entering the event you are accepting responsibility for your own health and suitability to compete in such a race and also the roadworthiness of your bike.

Entry Fee is £27.

Getting there

The Upper Derwent Valley is clearly signposted off the A57 by Ladybower Reservoir close to the village of Bamford, midway between Sheffield and Manchester.

From the A57 the road runs alongside the reservoir to Fairholmes. A number of free parking spaces are along this road which will involve a short walk or ride of between 0.5 and 2 miles. Alternatively, if you don’t mind paying for a space, the visitor centre has parking for around 150 cars. Please do no park on the roadside where restrictions apply. Parking tickets can ruin a day out and bad parking will clog up the valley road.

Registration desk

This will be outside at the visitor centre. Please arrive in good enough time to collect your race numbers (to be clearly visible from the front on the runs and the back on the bike) and bike sticker and to set your bike up in transition. All racking must be done in time for the 9.20 race briefing.

Transition area

This will be 300m from the visitor centre adjacent to the west tower of the magnificent Derwent Dam. No competitor’s vehicles may use the road up to it. Please keep your kit tidy in the transition area and respect everyone else’s.

The start

The race start is on the road next to the transition area. This will be at 9.30am prompt.

Run routes

Maps of the routes can be found via the link "event route maps" on the main menu.

The two run routes are dramatically different. Both follow the same stretch of road for the first 500m down from the transition area and along the front of the dam wall. At the other side the courses spilt – left for the fell route and right for the road. The choice is yours which you do first. Either way, at the end of both runs you will have run exactly the same distance.

The 4.5k fell route climbs up past the dam’s east tower, follows the flat track for a short distance before turning off up the steep climb towards Derwent Edge. It will be clearly marked all the way and will follow a clockwise loop bringing you back down to rejoin the road a short way along from where the routes split earlier. If it is clear the views over the valley are quite spectacular. Fell or trail shoes are recommended.

The 6.5k road route is as good as flat and follows the road down the eastern side of the reservoir to a turnaround point. It then follows the same route back. Again, a lovely route. Although it is a public road, access is limited to the small number of houses along there so it should be pretty free from traffic.

Both routes converge and return to the transition area along the front of the dam wall then up some steps rather than following the road round. However, on the second run you must set off down the road as you did on the first run.

The finish will be in front of the dam wall which you will see and work out on your first run.

Cycle route

This is an out and back route x 2 on the same stretch of road. It follows the west side of Derwent and Howden Reservoirs for 4.5 miles to the King’s Tree (planted by King George VI in 1945 to commemorate the completion of the reservoirs), round the tree and then return to the transition area where there will be a dead turn to send you out for your second ride up and down the road.

Please note that the road is not very wide and it is not a priority route in the eyes of Derbyshire County Council. It is a decent surface most of the way but it does have one or two rough patches. It does not have markings down its centre and you therefore need to look well ahead. There may be large puddles if it has rained a lot and the surface may be slippery in places as it is largely sheltered by trees. It cannot be stressed enough that this road will become dangerous if people are riding recklessly. Do not overtake unless you are confident that it can be done safely.

There are some tight bends too. Small markers will be placed out along the centre line of the road. You must not overtake where there are markers.

Other than that, the road is basically a 4.5 mile cul-de-sac with 3 houses along it and is closed to traffic at weekends except for access and disabled. It should be traffic-free but please be aware that there could be legitimate vehicles using it. If you encounter traffic please remain courteous and safe and do not jeopardise the future of the event. Also, if it's a nice day, there might be walkers and mountain bikers around too who have just as much right to use the road as you do.

Helmets must be worn.

Presentation

This will take place around 1.00pm outside the front of the visitor centre. There will be prizes for:

First 3 men;First 3 ladies;First man and woman under 20; over 40; over 50; over 60.

Course records

1.32.36 - Matthew Hallam (2016)

1.48.18 - Christine Howard (2015)

Mechanical support.

Jonathan Lee from "Wheels Of Fire" will be there again to sort out any bike niggles before during and after the race - www.wheelsonfire.co.uk

Other general information

The event will be manually timed at the transitions and the finish. Results will be on Peaklife Sport’s website as soon as possible.

The Upper Derwent Valley offers much in the way of beauty and interest. Along the cycle route are information boards telling the history of the dam building, the old villages which were submerged and ‘Tintown’ which existed during the period of construction. A post-race warm down maybe?

Fairholmes Visitor Centre has a cycle hire centre operated by the Peak District National Park Authority. Send the better-half and kids out on a ride around the various trails in the area while you race.There is also a kiosk for your hot tea requirements and plenty of places for a picnic.

The Peak District, being what it is, is well stocked with good places to take a Sunday lunch. Just drive away from the valley and, whichever direction you go, you’ll find something to meet your needs within a few miles.

So, good luck with the race and make sure you bring some good weather.